BURTON SUPERINTENDENT: ‘CLERICAL ERRORS’ IN PARTICIPATION FORM LED TO FORFEITURE RULING

The UIL District 13-2A Division II District Executive Committee will hold an emergency meeting today (Wednesday) to discuss the eligibility of a player on the Burton Panther football team.

According to the agenda, the committee will meet at 2 p.m. via Zoom to “discuss and approve an application for waiver of athletic parent residence rule for Burton ISD student.”

Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy said this meeting was prompted after the committee ruled last week that the team used an ineligible player and would therefore have to forfeit seven wins on the season.  According to Dr. Kennedy, the reason for the ruling was that the student’s address in Burton was incorrect on the Previous Athletic Participation Form (PAPF), as reported to the district by the parent, because of “clerical errors.”

 

The waiver from today’s meeting will be submitted to UIL for a decision on whether the team’s wins would be reinstated retroactively.  Dr. Kennedy said the UIL has assured Burton ISD that it will address the matter quickly so that the team knows where it stands among other teams in its district.  She said action is expected “hopefully by the weekend.”

 

Burton was atop the district and had clinched a playoff spot before the forfeitures.  As it stands, Burton (1-8, 1-4) would need to beat Iola (2-6, 2-3) and have Snook (4-5, 3-2) beat Milano (4-5, 2-3) on Friday in order to qualify for the playoffs.